With the departure of Hayley Griffith' in 2017 from 'Karnataka' after the release of the magnificent last album 'Secrets Of Angels' in 2015 and with the creation of new projects by frontman 'Ian Jones', starting with 'Chasing The Shadow' in 2019 which was followed by 'ILLUMINAE' in 2021, and although 'Ian Jones' had announced at the end of 2018 that the new singer of 'Karnataka' was called 'Sertari', I no longer expected a new release of 'Karnataka' anytime soon, especially since 'Chasing The Shadow' and 'ILLUMINAE' were very much in line with 'Karnataka'. And yet, in 2020, 'Ian Jones' announced on his site, during confinement, the new title 'Forever' in which we discovered the beautiful voice of 'Sertari, and, a little later , the release of a new album of 'Karnataka'. So after more than two years of waiting, here it was released at the end of July 2023 and, the least we can say is that it was worth the wait!! First of all, nearly 80 minutes are available to us and then, each title taken independently is worth the purchase of 'Requiem for a Dream'! At the Theme level 'Ian Jones' explains to us that "the album explores themes of personal adversity, loss, despair and forgiveness, experienced through the prism of global chaos, climate change and destruction. of the environment".
And it starts strong with the first long development 'All Around The World' which takes us on a progressive epic beginning with a voice that ticks a clock and continues with the best of what 'Ian Jones' has already offered us in his previous productions, I am thinking in particular of the magnificent river title 'Secrets Of Angels': absolutely beautiful vocal harmonies with a singer who moves us from the beginning to the end of the title, instrumental parts magnified by talented artists with the new keyboardist 'Rob Wilsher' unearthed by 'Ian Jones' and the guitarist 'Luke Machin', quite discreet it is true on this title but who gives us a very beautiful solo in the second part of the title and the lyrics strong on the hot topic of climate disaster. We continue in the sweetness of the aerial singing of 'Sertari' with 'Sacrifice' which gives a layer with a memorable chorus and a new guitar solo of 'Luke Machin' which literally makes his guitar sing, then, 'Look To The East ' is an ode to oriental scents that jostles our senses and which unfolds very beautiful melodic lines magnified by the bewitching vocalizations of 'Sertari'. And what about the following composition 'Forgiven' which adds an extraordinary fresco of a very special emotion where everything is done to get us warm on a cozy little cloud while letting us be lulled by the captivating song of 'Sertari ' with always very inspired variations around the main theme, the repeated section of 'Sanctus dominus et spiritus requiem' at 7 minutes followed by a heartbreaking guitar solo bringing us into a fabulous cathedral of sound giving goosebumps for almost 2 minutes. After all these emotions, 'The Night's Dance' (see the video above) brings us back to a lighter atmosphere with new delicate and enchanting arabesques from 'Sertari', then, 'Say Goodbye Tomorrow', after a rather lugubrious introduction on heavy sounds of bells, then shows a very melodic face with a chorus which gives an irresistible desire to accompany 'Sertari', 'Luke Machin' rewarding us with a remarkable new guitar solo 'Floydien' in the second part of the title. We are not at the end of our surprises because then looms the magnificent ballad 'Don't Forget My Name' which still raises the emotional cursor a few notches to trigger this little shiver several times, a sign of intense listening pleasure. , 'Luke Machin' being still at the party by literally making his guitar cry. If the album had ended on this ballad, I would certainly have been overwhelmed by these 55 minutes of wonderful listening, but 'Ian Jones' then takes us with the title song into a progressive and symphonic fresco requiring multiple listenings to draw all the richness from it, a kind of musical grail of which every second gives you immense listening pleasure, each artist bringing his stone to this extraordinary edifice, 'Sertari' being imperial, 'Luke Machin' delivering the ultimate guitar solo and, icing on the cake, as a distinguished guest, 'Troy Donockley' adding the Celtic side as he knows how to do it so well: simply beautiful!!
In summary, as you will have understood throughout this column, 'Ian Jones' offers us a musical nugget which, like any work of this type and like good wine, improves from listening to listening and 'Requiem for a Dream' will certainly become over time an essential album to have in your disco for all lovers of progressive rock... | |
